In the early stages of the 2025 college football season, Alabama's Ty Simpson was lighting up the field as one of the nation's top quarterbacks. Mock drafts consistently pegged him as the No. 1 overall pick, and it wasn't hard to see why.
However, as the season wore on, Simpson's performance cooled, and so did his draft stock. Now, as he heads into the 2026 Scouting Combine, he's seen as a mid-to-late first-round pick, with some analysts even placing him on Day 2 of the draft.
Simpson is looking to turn heads at the Combine, especially for quarterback-hungry teams like the New York Jets. He's off to a promising start, having weighed in better than expected.
Before the Rose Bowl, where Alabama fell to Indiana, the eventual national champs, Simpson was down to about 190 pounds due to a severe bout of gastritis, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. At the Combine, he's back up to 215 pounds, a welcome development for him and his team. His frame had been a concern, so regaining that weight is a key step in his pre-draft journey.
Despite facing challenges with a less-than-stellar supporting cast and battling injuries throughout 2025, Simpson still put together an impressive season for the Crimson Tide. He completed 64.5% of his passes, amassing 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only five interceptions.
With Fernando Mendoza expected to go No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, Simpson is widely regarded as the second-best quarterback available. The Jets, among others, will be watching closely as the draft approaches.
The big question remains: how high will Simpson go, and who will take the plunge? Teams with multiple first-round picks, like the Jets and the Rams, might be in the mix. Even with Matthew Stafford, the Rams could be eyeing a long-term solution.
Given their pressing need, the Jets are likely to explore every quarterback option available, and Simpson is definitely on their radar.